ThinkingAfield.org

May 5, 2025
Contact: Brenda Madden, 906-286-1348

The Kids Fishing Day Team is thrilled to be celebrating the 32nd anniversary of its annual Kids Fishing Day this year.

The day of fun, fishing and families will be held Saturday, June 7 at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Pocket Park, located on the Upper Peninsula State Fairgrounds in Escanaba.

Registration for Kids Fishing Day will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. (EDT) and the event will run until 3 p.m. All activities are free of charge and open to youth ages 16 years old and younger.

“We are excited to again hold our fishing event at the Pocket Park,” said Brenda Madden, longtime Kids Fishing Day team member and organizer. “It offers plenty of space for most all the traditional fun favorites at Kids Fishing Day events, plus some new activities, and the Pocket Park offers a beautiful natural-like setting right in the middle of Escanaba.”

Familiar activities returning include bluegill fishing, minnow races and face painting, along with free food and raffle prizes.

Greg Karch, certified angler instructor and founder of the non-profit organization Learn 2 Fish with Us, will be returning to the event this year to teach kids how to cast a fishing line and tie fishing knots.

Karch’s organization has educated more than 50,000 anglers in Wisconsin since 2006 and has hosted nearly 300 fishing workshops, including Kids Fishing Day at Camp 7 where he offered Backyard Bass for youngsters.

In addition, Smokey Bear will be wandering the grounds. There will also be a scavenger hunt and opportunities for kids to learn how to shoot at the Pocket Park’s archery and pellet gun ranges. Read more

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

The Rifle River has held a special place in my heart and the pop-up camper was loaded for another early season trek to the Michigan’s North country.  Running right through the Rifle River Recreation Area is one fine trout fishery, providing one can negotiate the maze of fallen ash trees killed by the invasive emerald ash borer.  Curses!  Some are hidden below the surface of the river and that presents its own fishing challenge.  Other bug-bit ash trees are everywhere making bank fishing nearly impossible.  However, I’ve found an intriguing eddy that always seems to hold good browns- most of which are over 14 inches in length and its fishable.

Michigan allows campsite reservations for the park, but they can’t be made earlier than six months in advance.  I’ve never had an issue getting the first week following opening weekend for my private site, but I make early reservations nonetheless.

In fact, I was the only person in the rustic camp by mid week.

The first catch of the trip was a sucker.

Oh, I realize they’re a favorite of those with a smoker, but I have no use for them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It wasn’t long before a hefty brown inhaled the tiny red worm and gave me a fierce battle with my Fenwick rod and Pfluger ultra-light reel and light line.

I was foolish not to have a measuring tape; however, that plastic tackle box the fish is on measures 14 3/4 inches.  Add another 3 inches or more and that’s close enough for me.  (I’ve already added a small tape measure to the kit).

In any event, another great solo trip for some fresh trout!

 

 

May 2, 2025

DNR reminds anglers of lake sturgeon fishing regulations and rehabilitation efforts

As spring arrives, anglers fishing in our rivers may unexpectedly find themselves with a lake sturgeon on the line. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers that special regulations exist for lake sturgeon, and fishing for lake sturgeon is prohibited except in a few locations in the state.

Can anglers fish for lake sturgeon?

In the Lower Peninsula, lake sturgeon may be encountered in places such as Manistee Lake, the Manistee River, Muskegon Lake, the Muskegon River, the Grand River, the Kalamazoo River, and Saginaw Bay and its tributaries, but it is unlawful to fish for lake sturgeon in these waters; any lake sturgeon incidentally caught while targeting other species must immediately be released. Additionally:

• Never hold a sturgeon in a vertical position by its head, gill covers or tail.
• Never touch the fish’s eyes or gills.
• Handle the fish as little as possible.

Waters with sturgeon possession seasons include Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River, Otsego Lake, the Menominee River and Black Lake. Waters with sturgeon fishing seasons (catch-and-release only) include the Detroit River, the St Marys River, Portage-Torch Lakes and the Ontonagon River.

In all other waters in the state of Michigan, it is unlawful to fish for lake sturgeon. (See Page 15 of the 2025 Michigan Fishing Regulations for detailed information related to lake sturgeon.)

Anglers can report incidental (unintentional) capture of lake sturgeon and report illegal harvesting or targeting of lake sturgeon at Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField or by calling the DNR’s Report All Poaching hotline: 800-292-7800.

What is special about lake sturgeon? Read more